AI Frontier Institute

Artifical intelligence; prohibit use of in professional mental and behavioral health care.

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Mississippi House Bill 1048 (2026 Regular Session), introduced by Representative Ford, prohibits the use of artificial intelligence in providing professional mental and behavioral health care. Section 1 defines key terms and establishes three core prohibitions: (1) AI providers may not make available any AI system specifically programmed to deliver services that would constitute professional mental or behavioral health care; (2) AI providers may not represent or imply that an AI system is capable of providing such care or that users can obtain such care through the system; and (3) licensed mental and behavioral health professionals may not use AI in their clinical practice. The bill covers counseling/psychotherapy (Section 73-30-3), psychology (Section 73-31-3), social work (Section 73-53-3), marriage and family therapy (Section 73-54-5), art therapy (Section 73-65-1), and music therapy (Section 73-66-3). An exception allows licensees to use AI for administrative and supplementary support services, including appointment scheduling, billing, patient records, and data analysis for operational purposes, but explicitly excludes AI from making independent therapeutic decisions, directly interacting with clients therapeutically, generating treatment plans without licensee review, or detecting emotional or mental states. Licensees may also use AI to record or transcribe sessions with written informed consent obtained at least 24 hours in advance. Violations carry a civil penalty of up to $15,000 per violation, enforceable by the Attorney General. Sections 2 through 7 amend Sections 73-30-21, 73-31-21, 73-53-17, 73-54-29, 73-65-13, and 73-66-17 of the Mississippi Code to add prohibited AI use as a ground for disciplinary action by each relevant licensing board. The act takes effect July 1, 2026 per Section 8.

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